Auburn rallies to top Alabama 49-37

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 10:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 10:58 p.m.

AUBURN — Cam Newton helped lead another Auburn comeback — this time in basketball.

With the Carolina Panthers quarterback leading cheers, the Tigers rallied from a miserable first half for a 49-37 victory over Alabama Wednesday night. It was the fewest points the Crimson Tide has scored in the rivalry.

Allen Payne and Josh Wallace each scored 11 points and came up big in the second half for the Tigers (9-13, 3-6 Southeastern Conference), who took control with a 16-0 run and held Alabama scoreless for more than nine minutes.

Coach Tony Barbee had said he was “embarrassed” by Auburn's performance against Missouri that extended the Tigers' losing streak to six games. He was much gentler at halftime.

“We were actually the ones down,” Payne said. “He came in and he was very positive.”

Newton watched from the student section and even led cheers with a megaphone. He won the Heisman Trophy and led Auburn to the national title in 2010 partly by his knack for leading comebacks.

The Tigers won despite managing just 13 points in the first half.

It was a season-low in points for Alabama (14-8, 6-3), which had won six of seven games and five straight in the rivalry. The Tide's previous low this season was 50 points.

It was also the fewest points scored by either team in the series since 1949.

“We got outplayed in every phase of the game,” Tide coach Anthony Grant said. “Their focus, energy and effort was a lot better than ours.”

Payne scored nine points in the second half. Wallace, who was averaging 3.6 points, matched his season high — all in the second half.

Trevor Releford and Rodney Cooper led Alabama with 11 points each.

Trevor Lacey fouled out with six points, half his season average, and Levi Randolph missed all seven of his shots. The Tide made just 6 of 25 shots (24 percent) in the second half and was 2 of 19 from 3-point range for the game. Auburn was even colder to start before hitting 12 of 21 shots (57.1 percent) in the second half.

The Tigers, who had just three baskets by halftime, came out of the locker room with a 25-5 surge.

The Tide had a scoring drought of 9:21 after Cooper's early 3-pointer

The Tigers hit just 3 of 23 shots (13 percent) before halftime to help Alabama build a 23-13 lead. The starters made just one basket in 15 attempts.

Alabama jumped ahead 15-2 over the first 11 minutes, then the Tigers scored 10 straight. Releford scored six points to key an 8-1 run heading into the half before the Tide went into the big second half funk that left Grant and Tide fans bewildered.

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